Da18-135 Not Auto-Focussing

disco_owner · 11-20-2012, 03:48 AM

not sue if anyone can help , but when I place the Lens on the K5 and Turn the camera on , the camera is asking me to input the Focal Length of the lens ?? could it be a dirty /bad contacts on the lens , if I do select a FL and try and get a Focus in AF-S the lens will not under any circumstances Focus. any ideas??

Timd · 11-20-2012, 04:00 AM - **1 Like**

Whenever the camera has F--, it means that it has no communication with the lens. Either the lens is not properly mounted all the way or else the contacts are dirty. It will be pointless to select a focal length as the camera needs to read the lens to work as it is a DC lens with the focus motor onboard. Manually putting in focal length is only for manual focul lenses, AFAIK.

disco_owner · 11-20-2012, 04:06 AM

Originally posted by Timd

Whenever the camera has F--, it means that it has no communication with the lens. Either the lens is not properly mounted all the way or else the contacts are dirty. It will be pointless to select a focal length as the camera needs to read the lens to work as it is a DC lens with the focus motor onboard. Manually putting in focal length is only for manual focul lenses, AFAIK.

I tried cleaning the contacts on the Lens , but still the same , I also tried another Lens that I have and there is communication between it and the camera , so it must be the contacts on the Da18-135 Lens.

Timd · 11-20-2012, 04:14 AM

I knew when I replied that there was the possibility that the problem was more severe. First clean the contacts; if that does not work, try it on another camera; if that does not work it needs to be fixed. Having said that, it is most likely to be the contacts. The 18-135 so far (apart from being slated by every lens reviewer) is a very reliable lens and does not suffer from Sudden Death Malaise (SDM!)

Stargeezer · 11-20-2012, 04:41 AM - **1 Like**

don't forget to clean the dc contacts, the 2 flat gold contacts and also on camera.

disco_owner · 11-20-2012, 02:41 PM

I placed a 2nd lens on the camera and AF works fine , the DC contacts on camera are clean , as i said earliet ,but regadless i went over all the contact again including the DC gold contacts , still no AF

Rick in Ohio · 11-20-2012, 10:35 PM - **1 Like**

Do you have a second camera body that has SDM contacts to try. There maybe a problem with the K-5 body contacts. There have been cases of the SDM contacts going out on a camera body, forcing the camera to use the screw drive on a SDM lens. I do not believe the 18-135 has the screw drive so if the body SDM contacts are bad, then no autofocus for this lens. Just something to check.

Rick

disco_owner · 11-21-2012, 06:18 PM

Something I must have overlooked , cleaning the Tiny Gold contacts on the camera but it appears I forgot this Important part

gave the Tiny Gold contact on camera a clean as well last night and the and Lens is now Focussing.

Thanks for your Replies everyone!!!

Timd · 11-22-2012, 10:06 AM

I love it when a problem is solved! (especially when there is no cost involved!)

Alizarine · 11-22-2012, 01:08 PM

I like this thread. Yet another proof of the 18-135 AF engine's reliability

a little cleaning and it's all back to normal!

disco_owner · 11-22-2012, 02:22 PM

I had my doubts at first , was willing to put money on the SDM , the 18-135 has proven to be very realiable , it is my most used lens , specially for my surfs shots at sunrise.

**lawsonstone** · 11-27-2012, 01:31 AM

The DA 18-135 is not an SDM lens. No * in the name, and the "DC" marking on the front means it's a different mechanism. Not SDM, not part of that whole problem and discussion.

**lawsonstone** · 11-27-2012, 01:33 AM

I note I was mistaken about the * signifying SDM. Still, Pentax does not advertise the DA 18-135 as an SDM lens, but as a "DC" lens.

disco_owner · 11-27-2012, 03:05 AM

I thought I had initially Fixed the Problem by Cleaning the DC contacts on the camera. Nope The Problem has resurfaced. Still the same issue . Now it's has completely Failed. it's now Just a MF lens

Alizarine · 12-01-2012, 05:05 PM

Originally posted by disco_owner

I thought I had initially Fixed the Problem by Cleaning the DC contacts on the camera. Nope The Problem has resurfaced. Still the same issue . Now it's has completely Failed. it's now Just a MF lens

Sad to hear that... well, it might just be the first case of a failed DC motor. Guess the best way is to send it back to have it fixed. As far as I remember from reading online though, is that the DC motor is, as the engineers call it, a "simple brushless DC motor" or something like that, which I hope indicates quick repair.

11-20-2012, 03:48 AM	#1
disco_owner Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,629	Da18-135 Not Auto-Focussing not sue if anyone can help , but when I place the Lens on the K5 and Turn the camera on , the camera is asking me to input the Focal Length of the lens ?? could it be a dirty /bad contacts on the lens , if I do select a FL and try and get a Focus in AF-S the lens will not under any circumstances Focus. any ideas??

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Selecting focussing area-Centre v Auto	TylerD	Troubleshooting and Beginner Help	24	06-12-2012 03:29 PM
Extreme Corner Performance Shootout - FA 43mm vs DA18-135 vs DA*50-135	chesebert	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	4	05-22-2012 09:38 AM
Landscape Flowers with DA18-135	Mr_Canuck	Post Your Photos!	3	05-20-2011 01:12 PM
DA18-135 or DA18-250?	jatrax	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	17	04-25-2011 08:41 PM
DA18-135 => Satisfied	xGene	Pentax SLR Lens Discussion	7	12-15-2010 02:17 PM

11-20-2012, 04:00 AM - 1 Like	#2
Timd Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cape Town, SA Posts: 262	Whenever the camera has F--, it means that it has no communication with the lens. Either the lens is not properly mounted all the way or else the contacts are dirty. It will be pointless to select a focal length as the camera needs to read the lens to work as it is a DC lens with the focus motor onboard. Manually putting in focal length is only for manual focul lenses, AFAIK.

11-20-2012, 04:06 AM	#3
disco_owner Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,629 Original Poster	Originally posted by Timd Whenever the camera has F--, it means that it has no communication with the lens. Either the lens is not properly mounted all the way or else the contacts are dirty. It will be pointless to select a focal length as the camera needs to read the lens to work as it is a DC lens with the focus motor onboard. Manually putting in focal length is only for manual focul lenses, AFAIK. I tried cleaning the contacts on the Lens , but still the same , I also tried another Lens that I have and there is communication between it and the camera , so it must be the contacts on the Da18-135 Lens.

11-20-2012, 04:14 AM	#4
Timd Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cape Town, SA Posts: 262	I knew when I replied that there was the possibility that the problem was more severe. First clean the contacts; if that does not work, try it on another camera; if that does not work it needs to be fixed. Having said that, it is most likely to be the contacts. The 18-135 so far (apart from being slated by every lens reviewer) is a very reliable lens and does not suffer from Sudden Death Malaise (SDM!)

11-20-2012, 04:41 AM - 1 Like	#5
Stargeezer Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: sunny florida Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 128	don't forget to clean the dc contacts, the 2 flat gold contacts and also on camera.

11-20-2012, 02:41 PM	#6
disco_owner Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,629 Original Poster	I placed a 2nd lens on the camera and AF works fine , the DC contacts on camera are clean , as i said earliet ,but regadless i went over all the contact again including the DC gold contacts , still no AF

11-20-2012, 10:35 PM - 1 Like	#7
Rick in Ohio Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Euclid Ohio Posts: 87	Do you have a second camera body that has SDM contacts to try. There maybe a problem with the K-5 body contacts. There have been cases of the SDM contacts going out on a camera body, forcing the camera to use the screw drive on a SDM lens. I do not believe the 18-135 has the screw drive so if the body SDM contacts are bad, then no autofocus for this lens. Just something to check. Rick

11-21-2012, 06:18 PM	#8
disco_owner Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,629 Original Poster	Something I must have overlooked , cleaning the Tiny Gold contacts on the camera but it appears I forgot this Important part gave the Tiny Gold contact on camera a clean as well last night and the and Lens is now Focussing. Thanks for your Replies everyone!!!

11-22-2012, 10:06 AM	#9
Timd Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Cape Town, SA Posts: 262	I love it when a problem is solved! (especially when there is no cost involved!)

11-22-2012, 01:08 PM	#10
Alizarine Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Manila Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,185	I like this thread. Yet another proof of the 18-135 AF engine's reliability a little cleaning and it's all back to normal!

11-22-2012, 02:22 PM	#11
disco_owner Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,629 Original Poster	I had my doubts at first , was willing to put money on the SDM , the 18-135 has proven to be very realiable , it is my most used lens , specially for my surfs shots at sunrise.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

11-27-2012, 01:31 AM	#12
lawsonstone Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wilmore, KY Posts: 376	The DA 18-135 is not an SDM lens. No * in the name, and the "DC" marking on the front means it's a different mechanism. Not SDM, not part of that whole problem and discussion.

11-27-2012, 01:33 AM	#13
lawsonstone Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wilmore, KY Posts: 376	I note I was mistaken about the * signifying SDM. Still, Pentax does not advertise the DA 18-135 as an SDM lens, but as a "DC" lens.

11-27-2012, 03:05 AM	#14
disco_owner Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,629 Original Poster	I thought I had initially Fixed the Problem by Cleaning the DC contacts on the camera. Nope The Problem has resurfaced. Still the same issue . Now it's has completely Failed. it's now Just a MF lens

12-01-2012, 05:05 PM	#15
Alizarine Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Manila Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,185	Originally posted by disco_owner I thought I had initially Fixed the Problem by Cleaning the DC contacts on the camera. Nope The Problem has resurfaced. Still the same issue . Now it's has completely Failed. it's now Just a MF lens Sad to hear that... well, it might just be the first case of a failed DC motor. Guess the best way is to send it back to have it fixed. As far as I remember from reading online though, is that the DC motor is, as the engineers call it, a "simple brushless DC motor" or something like that, which I hope indicates quick repair.